NR Times is excited to reveal the shortist for this year’s Charity of the Year Award.
The award celebrates charities whose interventions are so critical to the lives of those living with neurological illness or injury, working in innovative and proactive ways to sustain and grow the organisation, while putting service users at the heart of everything they do.
The Charity of the Year award is sponsored by Burnetts.
The specialist Brain Injury Team at Burnetts have a wealth of experience supporting patients and their families with all types of serious personal injury claims including those arising from road traffic collisions, accidents at work and following assaults.
Shortlisting for the award was incredibly difficult this year, with so many outstanding entries from charities doing amazing work.
We usually shortlist three organisations for each award, but the top four were all so impressive that we simply couldn’t choose between them – so we’ve shortlisted all four.
Congratulations to the shortlisted charities and thank you to everyone who nominated.
Charity of the Year Shortlist
Cauda Equina Champions Charity is a patient-led organisation supporting those with the condition.
Working alongside people living with CES, we aim to raise awareness of Cauda Equina Syndrome, support our CES community and provide bespoke rehabilitation services for people after injury.
Founded and led by Claire Thornber, herself a CES patient of 15 years, the charity is rooted in lived experience.
Claire’s mission was to ensure that no one with CES would feel isolated or unsupported. Today, the organisation has grown into a vibrant international community supporting more than 9,000 people across 20 countries.
Challenging MND is an inspirational, fast-moving charity transforming the lives of those living with motor neurone disease (MND), and the families and carers who support them.
Founded by former GB decathlete Alex Gibson—diagnosed with MND at just 39—the charity is built on lived experience and an unshakable belief that life should be lived to the fullest, even in the face of terminal illness.
Since its inception, Challenging MND has raised over £1.9 million and provided direct support to more than 550 individuals and families across the UK, offering tailored equipment, life-enhancing experiences, and emotional and practical support.
What makes this charity stand out is not just the scale of its reach, but the quality, speed, and compassion behind every single intervention.
LEGS provides accessible and subsidised neurological rehabilitation and a supportive community for people with neurological conditions.
Since 2017, LEGS have worked with over 400 people to improve their rehabilitation and wellbeing, reduce their isolation and support their families and carers.
LEGS was founded by Annys Fairweather in 2016. Annys is the Chair of Trustees. She is a figurehead for the charity and provides leadership and direction to the team.
The trustees work towards achieving the vision, mission and values of LEGS.
Annys’ ability to bring about meaningful change was recognised at the Kensington and Chelsea Business Awards in 2018 where she was awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year and LEGS was Commended in the Best Charity or Social Enterprise category.
Seashell was nominated in recognition of its transformative work with children and young people who have complex learning, communication, and sensory needs.
With a legacy spanning over 200 years, Seashell continues to innovate and lead in the field of specialist education and care, offering a lifeline to families across the UK.
At the heart of Seashell’s mission is a commitment to creating inclusive environments where every young person can thrive.
Through its outstanding school and college, residential care, and therapy services, Seashell provides tailored support that empowers individuals to reach their full potential.
The organisation’s holistic approach ensures that education, health, and emotional wellbeing are seamlessly integrated, resulting in life-changing outcomes for its students and their families.
